The presence of “negative” social relationships in one’s environment may be associated with accelerated biological aging, according to research cited by Psychology Today.
In the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the authors used epigenetic “clocks” (age assessment based on DNA methylation) based on saliva samples and social network data from more than 2,300 participants in Indiana. According to the abstract, each additional “hassler” (a person who causes stress and creates difficulties) was statistically associated with approximately 1.5% faster aging and approximately 9 months “older” in biological age; associations with markers of inflammation and multimorbidity were also noted.
Experts emphasize that such results describe a relationship rather than prove a causal effect: biological aging is simultaneously influenced by stress, lifestyle, and health. Previous studies have also linked chronic stress to markers of cellular aging, including telomere changes. Additional work shows that negative and positive social experiences may be associated with accelerating or slowing epigenetic aging.
biological aging, Toxic relationships
